Electric storage battery.



2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

w l x l l l I INVENTOR:

ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATION man APR. 9, 1914.

wl'mgggs;

i said plate comp-a EM ES liIOfiTIi/ZER SKINNER AND VICIGR RULES BOTTCNE,

OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC STORAGE Application filed April 9, 1

liionrnrnn tates, and Borrorrn. a citizen of Engdents of Philadel. .hia, inthe i'adelphia ant. itate of Penninvented a certain new and mentin Electric Storage the following is a speci-- r ence being nad to the accom ral use, and particularly such batteries are liaently shaken, during operation, ells or outer casings which closed to prevent spilling the electrolyte. However. as gas is formed by electrolytic action within. such casings, the latter must oc orovided with means to permitthe such gas.

l' heretore, it an hject of our invention to provide such a storage battery with casing raving a vent device permitting the escape of gas without permitting the escape of the liquid electrolyte.

Sis hereinafter described, our invention includes an electric stora e battery having a casingcontaining a plate compartment in its lower portion and a gas compartment in its upper portion; plates in said plate-compartment having terminals extending exterior to said casing; a liquid electrolyte in tnicnt, but in communication with said compartment; and a vent device including an outer vertical conduit in cormnunication with an opening through the wall of said casing, a conduit, in communication with extending said opening, 7 transversely in said casing, and opening at its inner end into said gas coinpartn'ient; so constructed and arranged with reference to the quantity 01"" said electrolyte that the latter is normally prevented from reaching the open outer end of said vent conduit, through which the gas escapes. As hereinafter described. said casing is conveniently made rectangular, and the portion of said conduit which carried by the lid of the casing extends horizontally in the casing successively parallel with the sides thereof, and may he formed ot a primarily flexible rulilocr tuhe havingmeans holding it rigid. In any case, the bottom of said conduit preterahly inclined downwardl within the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented den. 55. in?

914. Serial no. 330,622.

casing, so that any of the electrolyte accidental v finding its way into said conduit, gravitar therefrom into said casing when the latter is in it' normal upright position.

Our invention includes the various novel features oi construction and arrangement hereimrfter more deimiteiy specified.

In the drawings: Figure l a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a storage hattery conveniently en'ihodying our invention, section being taken on the line i, 1 in Fig. ll. Fig. H is a view of said battery. ction being taken on the line llhll in l i f I. Fig. Ill is an inverted plan view of the lid of the casin shown in Figs. 1 and ll. IV mental-y sectional view, similar to the upper left hand corner of Fig. II, but showing a modified form of conduit. Fig. V is a plan view of a battery embodying a modified form of our invention. Fig. V1 is a front elevation the battery shown in Fig. .V. Fig. VII is a central vertical sectional view of said battery. taken on the line Vll, VII in Figs. '7 and VI.

The storage battery shown in Figs.

1S tragi, ii

and Ill includes the invertible rectangular *asing 1 containing the plate compartment 2 in its lower portion and the compartment 3 in its upper portion. The partition 1} which is in rigid relation with said casing 1, between said two compartments, permits fluid communication between them. The plates 5 andll in said plate compartment 2 are held said partition upon the supporting ribs 8, at the bottom of said casing, which permit the flow of liquid acid electrolyte 9 beneath said plates. which are held in separated relation by the porous sepa rators 11 which are preferably formed of wood deprived of such of its constituents as might interfere with the electrolytic action or eiliciency of the battery. Said electrolyte 9 extends above said partition 1 and in communication with said gas compartment 3. Said plates areheld in assembled relation as shown. by their respective terminals 13 and H which extend exterior to said casing 1 through the respective openings 15 and 16 in the lid 17 of said casing. Said lid 17 has the central opening 18. through which the electrolyte 3 may he introduced and removed; said opening hcing normally closed by the pliu 20 having the lead 21 which may he so exterior to said lid. Said lid verticrl transverse sectional 26, which permits 17, is shown detached in Fig. III, but is cemented in integral relation with said ca'sing 1, so as to form the top wall. thereof, as shown in Fig. I. Said casing 1 has the vent device including the outer conduit 22 in communication withthe ,vent opening 23 1eadmg from the interior ofsaid casing 1,

through said lid 17, to the atmosphere; and the inner conduit 24, in communication with said opening 23, extending horizontally in said casing 1 successively parallel with the sides thereof, and open at its inner end in any suitable flexible material, preferably transparent celluloid, which permits inspection of the interior of the battery through the casing walls.

It may be observed that in the form of our invention above described, the vent device is carried by the lid 17 and may be-primarilyformed entirely independently of the casing 1, to which it is subsequently cemented, as above contemplated. However,-it is to be understood that vent devices may be otherwise constructed in accordance .with our invention, for instance, they may be carried by the casings independently of their lids, or be suspended in the sealing compound, without connection with either. The battery shown in Figs. V, VI and VII includes a vent device which is not carried by the upper wall or lidof the invertible rectangular casing 31, which is otherwise simi- -lar to said casing 1.

Said casing 31 contains the plate compartment 32 in its lower portion and the gas compartment 33 in its upper portion, and the partition 34 which is in rigid relation with said casing 31, between said two compartments, permits fluid communication between them. The plates 35" and 36 in said plate compartment 32 are held by said partition 34 upon the supporting ribs 38, at the bottom of said casing, which permit the flow of liquid acid electrolyte 39 between said plates which are held in separated relation by the porous separators 41, like the separators 11 above described. Said electrolyte 39 extends above said partition 34 and in communication with said gasccompartment Said plates are held in the assembled relation shown, b their respective terminals 4-3 and 44 whic and VII, has a vent mg 31 successively parallel extend exterior to said casing 3Lthrough the respective openings 45 and 46 inthe lid 47 of said casing 31. Said lid 47 has the central opening 48 through which the electrolyte 39 may be introduced and removed; said cpeningbeing normally closed by the plug 50 having the head 51 which may be sealed exterior to; said lid. Said primarily detached, like the lid 17 shown in Fig. III, but which is cemented in iritegral relation with said casing 31, so as to form the top wall thereof, as shown in Figs. VI device including the 53 leading from the interior 31 to the atmosphere, and the outer opening of said casing lid 47 which is conduit 54 in communication with said ope'ning 53, extending transversely in said casthereof and open at its inner end in communication with said gas compartment 33 as shown in Fig. VI. The bottom of said conduit 54 is inclined downwardly from said outer opening 53 toward its inner end, so that any of said electrolyte 39 which may find its way therein shall return by gravitation to the interior of said casing, and said conduit may be filled with porous, splash preventing material 56, which permits the" escape of gas through said conduit but checks the fiow of liquid therethrough. Said conduit 54 is conveniently formed of a primarily flexible rubber tube, having. means holding it rigid, including the plastic compound 58 and the horizontal partition 59 supporting said compound above said gas compartment 33, as shown in Figs. VI and VII Referring to Figs. VI and VII, it may be observed that said partition 59 is connected in integral relation with said lid 47 by the central tube 60' which surrounds stood that said elements of the vent device may be assembled by first cementing said partition 59 in the casing 31, then filling the space above it with the sealing compound 58, embedding said conduit 54 and tube 60, and then cementing said lid 47 in said casing, or, the entire vent device, including the elements 47, 54, 58, 59 and 60, may be assembled apart from the casing 31, and then connected withsthe latter, like the with the sides lid 17 above described. In other words, said vent device including'the conduit 54, may

Moreover, such may be supportmeans which do be carried bythe lid 47. primarily flexible conduits ed in operative position by not hold them rigid. I

It may be observed that although in both forms of our invention above described the vent'devices of the respective battery cells or casings, 1 and 31, normally'permit the escape of gas and thus prevent the accumulation of fluid pressure within said casings, above that of the outer atmosphere; it is impossible for the liquid electrolyte to essaid central opening 48. It is to be under- I cape under neiznai (renditions. However, 7 homing said casings in 1n the 15 and from which the eieetmiyte may be damned hack Into he hatter}? casing". Said grid with said casing, 01'

any in sections extending r1 (afferent directions; such construction and. ai'iiangement is not essentiai. iore We (30 not desire to limit onise iie 1e PM "i e (letaiis of construction and a1: i iein set 'm-th. as it obvious nmiifieations may be made without departing from the essential of Oili' invention as defined in the ended claims. 'e (:iai An s i'age battery including ieciaz gnhir a ent ti A e inciiming an outer top Wall of said easing. (a I 'eation with said opening Horizontally in said casing' snecessn 1 "iei with the sides there nf, and in 00111111: pin-tine) i ltzli m a flexible 111i )(31 tube; said tube rigid. incinding :1.

splash where i with the sine? on with said gas eoniginning- Wit ing t( \\'21l(i its inner end; whereby arising in said ehanihei' from eieetno j J action in said Casi 1 tm'tnoiis pa end of 5a: eonih, sant Vent einnout pti'lnltililfl the escape of e battery inehi inehich a 3. An eleetrie casing: a sex s (iBYl opening in the mi! 01 s in cmngnunication with ing ti'ansvm'seiy in said parallel with the sides ti munication with aiC. comp 11 formed of a tube; ind me; s hniciing said 30 tube i-i 'iii, inehniin -stie id,

above (i nus cein t; f

said Mi inch: ed

than said i 1 opening tom 7 its innei' nd: Where] arising in s l i-tion may escape i e tertnous way heginn with the iniu" enc conduit and terminating s i opening: to the al ,sph ie, without. permit escape of the electrolyte.

ting the -i. 3.11

including an outer ea c m Lli' in coinnninieation i -airl evening extending hnl'iznntziiiy in said casing, successii'eiy pai'aiiui "with the ides theredf, and in wnmmnication with said gas c meat, formed at a tizhe; and. I ing said tube rigid, ahuve said limit; the imttnni mi iun lnit (:linexi dwivnwariii 5mm said enter one toward its i gas :iris" in said m1 eieeti'u in said easing may esmme thmiin'i 2114 1 said vent opening (0 "are ainms; out 5): 'mittin the. est-ape of the f "in elect star 1 i i and tei'minatinv W (it the vim Qii Mee opmim communication with said ment; and means holding said conduit rigid, above said gas compartment; Where-by gas arising in said gas chamber from electrolytic action in' said casing may escape through the tortuous passageway beginning With the inoner end of said conduit and terminating R an communication With said vent opening to the atmosphere.

7. An electric storage battery casing having a gas-vent opening in its top; a conduit with said opening, excasing successively substaiatially parallel with the vertical walls thereof, forming a tortuous passageway, having a gas inlet; and a conduit exterior to said casing, opening, extending walls, toward the tending within said parallel with one of said bottom thereof.

gas compartin communication with said within said casing successively substantially parallel with the Vertical walls thereof, forming a tortuous passageway, having a gas inlet; and a conduit exterior to said casing, in communication With said opening, extending parallel with one of said Walls, toward the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this seventh day of April, 1914;

JAMES :MORTIMER SKINNER. VICTOR ROLES BOTTONE. Witnesses:

JOHN S. THOMAS, EDWARD DAVIS. 

